Allocation Proposal February 12 2008

We are requesting, as members of the Africana Studies Faculty Recruiting Committee, the allocation of a second line to the Africana Studies Department.

Rationale…

We think that full professors who are committed to both the discipline and student life are necessary for the department.

We feel that two lines are necessary to build a stronger department and demonstrate Hamilton’s commitment to diversity. It is important to have full Africana Studies professors in addition to the professors from other departments. This commitment on Hamilton’s part will encourage the growth of the department. Talented, energetic, and engaging professors will demand better enrollment in these courses.

As students on the committee we attest to the excellence of two existing candidates in terms of both the discipline of Africana Studies and commitment to student life.

We believe that the talent, intelligence, and charisma of these two targeted hires would attract students to the Africana Studies Department. Their full investment in the program would legitimize the major because it would show strong institutional support. Hamilton must proactively affirm this program by creating two lines.

Full Professors…

The Africana Studies department has amazing professors but their primary commitment is to their original field. The Program needs professors of the same standard but who can focus on the discipline of Africana Studies.

Committed to the Discipline…

Professor Carter, currently the Visiting Associate Professor in the Africana Studies Department demonstrates a commitment to the Africana Studies Department through his work on the African Diaspora in Europe and his training as an anthropologist.

Similarly, Angel Nieves would promote this program through his studies on urban development, structure, and knowledge of Latin American studies. Additionally, Professor Nieves’ work on digital, historical simulation would bring a fresh perspective on the new uses of technology in the Africana Studies field.

Committed to Student Life…

Professor Carter currently invests himself fully in the extra-curricular activities at Hamilton. He consistently makes himself available to students and helps us discover new ways of thinking about and interpreting the world. Not only is Professor Carter an advisor to his students, but he is also an excellent mentor.

During his interview, Angel Nieves shared with us the importance of student-professor cooperative research. He expressed interest in working with students on projects that he has already started and also on our own initiatives.


Conclusion:

Both Professor Carter and Professor Nieves would complement each other as lines in the Africana Studies Department. They both have different specialties that are vital to the development of the Africana Studies Department. By adding two full time Africana lines, we will not only be adding new scholarship but creating more diversity in the faculty. Hamilton College has been trying to find ways to attract more faculties of color and by adding two lines to the Africana Studies department, we could retain two faculty members who are excited to develop and create new initiatives within the department. Furthermore, the additional faculty of color will show administrative support to diversity.